UCLA Clock Management

[Husker.Wed._rivals]

Their clock management sucked. If Rhule did what they did we would have the pitchforks out. Their last drive started with 11:33 to go on their four yard line down 14 points. They routinely took 15-30 seconds to run plays and the 96 yard drive ran the clock down to 4:54 (six minutes 39 seconds). There was seemingly no urgency.

When NU got the ball back there was a 2nd and 3 from our 41 that was converted by the 16 yard pass to Hunter at 2:22 left. UCLA let the clock run 11 seconds off before calling a timeout at 2:11. The next play EJ ran for 9 yards and sat down to avoid going out of bounds. UCLA called a TO at 2:03. NU ran EJ who just made the 1st down and the clock stopped at 1:57. UCLA had no timeouts left and NU went to the victory formation. If UCLA had let NU bleed the clock to the 2 minute timeout. They could have conceivably used their two timeouts after NU ran the first play after the 2 minute warning and if stopped NU on first, second and third downs could have taken the punt with around 1:15 left. Those two timeouts they called before 2:00 were weird IMHO.

If they hadn't been so casual about their last scoring drive, the clock wouldn't have been so critical for them at the end.

 

[4.6.3]

Huh? It didn’t matter before or after given we got the first. You can’t really play the “what if game” when NU converted the first down anyway

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

I think they were banking on using up a lot of clock like their almost 10-minute drive in the 1st half, forcing a punt like they had almost every drive of the 2nd half, then having enough time to score again with Nico’s legs leading the charge. Fortunately for us, we got enough first downs to end the game.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

They were within 7 with 5:42(ish) to go...they needed a 3 and out and just didn't get it. Not much you can do there if yer UCLA.

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

New weasel's son not any better than his dad.

 

[orclover11]

Their clock management sucked. If Rhule did what they did we would have the pitchforks out. Their last drive started with 11:33 to go on their four yard line down 14 points. They routinely took 15-30 seconds to run plays and the 96 yard drive ran the clock down to 4:54 (six minutes 39 seconds). There was seemingly no urgency.

When NU got the ball back there was a 2nd and 3 from our 41 that was converted by the 16 yard pass to Hunter at 2:22 left. UCLA let the clock run 11 seconds off before calling a timeout at 2:11. The next play EJ ran for 9 yards and sat down to avoid going out of bounds. UCLA called a TO at 2:03. NU ran EJ who just made the 1st down and the clock stopped at 1:57. UCLA had no timeouts left and NU went to the victory formation. If UCLA had let NU bleed the clock to the 2 minute timeout. They could have conceivably used their two timeouts after NU ran the first play after the 2 minute warning and if stopped NU on first, second and third downs could have taken the punt with around 1:15 left. Those two timeouts they called before 2:00 were weird IMHO.

If they hadn't been so casual about their last scoring drive, the clock wouldn't have been so critical for them at the end.

Offensive lineman get tired when you run block, clock doesn't stop with first downs, and Nebraska was defending to force them to run a lot of plays. They also had a drive that took nearly an entire quarter early in the game. Their offense dissolved when they went to a hurry up, if you remove the run game, it plays into the hands of the husker defense, which is one of the best in the nation against the pass..if you run the ball, you have to run the clock. Coaches seem to know the analytics that saving timeouts is actually stupid if it hurts you earlier in the game, ie...like on the fake punt, or getting a penalty and stalling a drive. Use your timeouts to keep a drive going rather than in the off-chance you will need them to save an extra 45 seconds later in the game.

 

[salsa red]

Thats probably because they're interim coaches with no experience who are coaching after the head coach and coordinators have been fired. Rhule just sucks at time management lol.

 

[Hard4Corn]

I was a bit surprised they didn't try the onside kick after their last TD. They hadn't really stopped our run game all night. I guess there was plenty of time if they had gotten a 3 and out but it didn't seem likely.

 

[knightwxc5000]

Their clock management sucked. If Rhule did what they did we would have the pitchforks out. Their last drive started with 11:33 to go on their four yard line down 14 points. They routinely took 15-30 seconds to run plays and the 96 yard drive ran the clock down to 4:54 (six minutes 39 seconds). There was seemingly no urgency.

When NU got the ball back there was a 2nd and 3 from our 41 that was converted by the 16 yard pass to Hunter at 2:22 left. UCLA let the clock run 11 seconds off before calling a timeout at 2:11. The next play EJ ran for 9 yards and sat down to avoid going out of bounds. UCLA called a TO at 2:03. NU ran EJ who just made the 1st down and the clock stopped at 1:57. UCLA had no timeouts left and NU went to the victory formation. If UCLA had let NU bleed the clock to the 2 minute timeout. They could have conceivably used their two timeouts after NU ran the first play after the 2 minute warning and if stopped NU on first, second and third downs could have taken the punt with around 1:15 left. Those two timeouts they called before 2:00 were weird IMHO.

If they hadn't been so casual about their last scoring drive, the clock wouldn't have been so critical for them at the end.

Taking the timeouts before the 2 minute warning leads to more time by probably 10 seconds. I'm too lazy to type out why.

 

[Husker.Wed._rivals]

I think they were banking on using up a lot of clock like their almost 10-minute drive in the 1st half, forcing a punt like they had almost every drive of the 2nd half, then having enough time to score again with Nico’s legs leading the charge. Fortunately for us, we got enough first downs to end the game.

BTW, Happy 250th tomorrow. Semper Fi

 

[ihuskcorn]

Their clock management sucked. If Rhule did what they did we would have the pitchforks out. Their last drive started with 11:33 to go on their four yard line down 14 points. They routinely took 15-30 seconds to run plays and the 96 yard drive ran the clock down to 4:54 (six minutes 39 seconds). There was seemingly no urgency.

When NU got the ball back there was a 2nd and 3 from our 41 that was converted by the 16 yard pass to Hunter at 2:22 left. UCLA let the clock run 11 seconds off before calling a timeout at 2:11. The next play EJ ran for 9 yards and sat down to avoid going out of bounds. UCLA called a TO at 2:03. NU ran EJ who just made the 1st down and the clock stopped at 1:57. UCLA had no timeouts left and NU went to the victory formation. If UCLA had let NU bleed the clock to the 2 minute timeout. They could have conceivably used their two timeouts after NU ran the first play after the 2 minute warning and if stopped NU on first, second and third downs could have taken the punt with around 1:15 left. Those two timeouts they called before 2:00 were weird IMHO.

If they hadn't been so casual about their last scoring drive, the clock wouldn't have been so critical for them at the end.

What I can’t understand is why call a time out with 3 seconds before the two minute warning? You save 3 whole seconds of time. Why not allow the clock to reach the 2 minute warning? Then when Nebraska runs their play you call a timeout and save 35-40 seconds. If they hadn’t taken the 2nd timeout at 2:13 you would have another timeout to save another 40 seconds after the 2 minute warning. They took 2 timeouts to save 13 seconds. Doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[Gleekus]

What I can’t understand is why call a time out with 3 seconds before the two minute warning? You save 3 whole seconds of time. Why not allow the clock to reach the 2 minute warning? Then when Nebraska runs their play you call a timeout and save 35-40 seconds. If they hadn’t taken the 2nd timeout at 2:13 you would have another timeout to save another 40 seconds after the 2 minute warning. They took 2 timeouts to save 13 seconds. Doesn’t make sense to me.

If you actually map out the two scenarios you’ll see why calling timeouts before the 2 minute warning is mathematically the correct choice. Assume the play outcomes are the same.

What actually happened:
Nebraska gets 1st down at 2:22, timeout at 2:11. (1 remaining).
1st down play snapped at 2:11, timeout at 2:03 (0 remaining).
2nd down play snapped at 2:03, clock stops at 1:57 for 2 minute warning.
Nebraska has 1st down with 1:57 remaining and can kneel out clock.

Your suggestion:
Nebraska gets first down at 2:22, clock runs to 2:00.
1st down snapped at 2:00, timeout number 1 at 1:52.
2nd down snapped at 1:52, timeout number 2 at 1:47.
Nebraska has 1st down with 1:47 remaining and can kneel out the clock.

Now imagine they had stopped us on the second down play, and again on third down. Either way, the clock stops after 2nd down, either for the 2 minute warning or for their final timeout. That means Nebraska then has 3rd down and short starting at either 1:57 or 1:47. The play takes 5-6 seconds and then Nebraska runs 40 seconds off before taking a timeout and either punting or going for it on 4th down. Either way, that play takes a few seconds as well. Call it a minute all told for 3rd and 4th down. All that said, UCLA has the ball at either 0:57 (if they used their timeouts before the 2:00) or 0:47 (if they waited). Which is better?

Taking timeouts before the 2 minute might seem counterintuitive, but it will always save more time.

 

[Bigred2467]

Taking timeouts before the 2 minute might seem counterintuitive, but it will always save more time.

So, we should expect Rhule to take the time out after the two minute warning if we’re ever in that situation.

 

[redwine65]

we don't care if they lose the game by bad clock management

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

BTW, Happy 250th tomorrow. Semper Fi

Oorah!! Happy Birthday Devil Dogs!!

 

[4.6.3]

What I can’t understand is why call a time out with 3 seconds before the two minute warning? You save 3 whole seconds of time. Why not allow the clock to reach the 2 minute warning? Then when Nebraska runs their play you call a timeout and save 35-40 seconds. If they hadn’t taken the 2nd timeout at 2:13 you would have another timeout to save another 40 seconds after the 2 minute warning. They took 2 timeouts to save 13 seconds. Doesn’t make sense to me.

Because that play is both started and stopped with a dead ball, guaranteed

 

[Baxter48]

I admit I don’t watch many professional games but some of those coaches don’t manage the clock very good either, and a lot of college coaches aren’t very good at it, not just coach Rhule, the two minute time out has it’s pluses and minuses, say your ahead by a field goal you have a runn play for 3 yards you get tackled at 2:10 mark if there wasn’t a two minute time out the clock would run around 1:50, if your wanting to burn the clock you just got screw out of ten seconds or your opponent has to burn a timeout